Geranium plant named ‘Fissalmrose’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fissalmrose’, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by the combined features of bright rose flower color, very large umbels, medium-green, zoned foliage, vigorous growth, and relatively wide plant habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Fissalmrose’.

‘Fissalmrose’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new geranium varieties with uniformly deep salmonor salmon-pink flower color, in combination with medium-green foliage.

‘Fissalmrose’ originated from a hybridization made by the inventorAngelika Utecht in a controlled breeding program in Galdar, GranCanaria, Spain, in 1996.

The female parent was a hybrid seedling, No. 1216-3 (unpatented), havinguniform salmon colored, single-type flowers, light to medium-greenfoliage with strong zonation, and vigorous growth. The male parent of‘Fissalmrose’ was the variety ‘Fiseye’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,302,which is characterized by light-violet flowers with large red eyes onpetals, and large, medium green leaves without zonation.

‘Fissalmrose’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross by Angelika Utecht in 1997 in a controlled environmentin Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain. The first act of asexual reproduction of‘Fissalmrose’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken fromthe initial selection in the fall of 1997 in a controlled environment inGaldar, Gran Canaria, Spain, by, or under the supervision of, AngelikaUtecht.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in May 1998 in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany, andcontinuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Fissalmrose’ are firmly fixedand are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Fissalmrose’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describeplants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, and in Langley, British Columbia,Canada, under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generallyused in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Fissalmrose’ in combination distinguishthis geranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Bright rose colored, weakly semi-double flowers;

2. Large, roundflowers and very wide inflorescences;

3. Medium green foliage with distinct zonation;

4. Vigorous growth, and relatively tall plant habit; and

5. Mid season spring flowering response.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Fissalmrose’ is the variety ‘Fisrorose’,United States plant patent applied for, Ser. No. 09/632,244.

In comparison to ‘Fisrorose’, ‘Fissalmrose’ has a more intense flowercolor, longer peduncles, weaker anthocyanin coloration of pedicels andsepals, and not quite as strong zonation on leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Fissalmrose’ with colors being as true as possiblewith an illustration of this type. The photograph shows a floweringpotted plant.

The measurements were taken in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, onJul. 20, 2000, 15 weeks after planting of rooted cuttings into 6 inchpots. The plants had not been pinched.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.). The color values weredetermined indoors from plants developed in a green-house in May 2000 inHillscheid, Germany.

Classification:

Botanical.—A hybrid of the species Pelargonium zonale L'Hérit.

Commercial.—Zonal geranium, cv. ‘Fissalmrose’.

Inflorescence:

Umbel.—Shape: Umbrella-shaped. Average diameter: 123 mm. Average depth:65 mm. Peduncle length: 228 mm. Peduncle color: Light green, RHS 143 Bto 143 C. Pedicel length: 34 mm. Pedicel color: Light green, RHS 143 C,slight infusion of anthocyanin, light brownish-red, RHS 179 B. Number offlowers per umbel: Approximately 30-40. Lastingness of individual bloom:Approximately 9 days at 18° C. Lastingness of umbel: Approximately 18days.

Corolla.—Average diameter: 47 mm. Form: Weakly semi-double. Shape:Nearly round, open, slightly cup-shaped. Number of petals: 6-7. Petalssize: Upper petals (2): 25-27 mm in length; 20 mm in diameter, Lowerpetals: 23-25 mm in length, 20-23 mm in diameter. Inner petals aresmaller in size. Petal shape: Oblong to nearly obovate, with the upperend rounded and with attenuate base, margin entire. Color (generaltonality from a distance of three meters): Uniform rose-pink. Color ofupper petals: Color varying between RHS 52 A and closest to but moreintense than RHS 52 B. Markings of upper petals: Absent. Color of lowerpetals: Coloration between RHS 50 B-52 B, no markings. Color of lowersurface of petals: Salmon pink, RHS43 C. Color of sepals: Light green,RHS 143 A-B (varies between the two colors provided), very weak brownishhue at the base, RHS 179 B. Number of sepals: 5. Sepal size: 11-12 mm inlength, 4 mm in diameter for the upper sepal, 2-3 mm in diameter for theother petals. Sepal shape: Linear to lanceolate, acute tip, basetruncate, margin entire. Number of petaloids: 1-3. Petaloid color: Uppersurface color varying between 52A and 52B, lower surface RHS 50B.

Bud: (just prior to petals unfolding).—Shape: Elliptical. Color (lowerpart — sepals): Light green, RHS 143 B, no anthocyanin. Color (upperpart — petals): Salmon, slightly marbled, Varying between RHS 43 B andRHS 43 D. Length: 17 mm. Width: 9 mm.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: 5 fertile anthers, white filaments,orange pollen. Gynoecium: 5-6-lobed, pink stigma, RHS 52 C, light pinkstyle. Fertility/seed set: A few seeds are developed, mainly from latesummer to fall. Pollen produced: Moderate quantity, color RHS 30 A.Number of pistils: One.

Spring flowering response period.—In Hillscheid, Germany, in 2000,plants had on average 0.8 flowers opened 8 weeks after planting ofrooted cuttings.

Outdoor flower production.—Only moderately floriferous, due to the largesize of the inflorescences, the flower count in 2000 in Hillscheid,Germany, indicated about 2-3 inflorescence per plant in mid May.

Durability.—Relatively good rain resistance, some fading of flower color(RHS 55A) may occur.

Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 9 days at 18° C.

Fragrance.—None.

Plant:

Foliage.—Form: Kidney-shaped, with nearly closed base, slightly wavymargin, very weak expression of lobes. Margin: Bicrenated. Size of leaf:60 mm long, 105 mm wide. Color of upper surface: Light green,approximately RHS 137 B-C (varies between two color designations), dulland slightly velvety. Color of lower surface: RHS 137 D. Zonation: Wide,but not very strong, brown, approximately RHS 166 A. Petiole size: 60-70mm in length, 3-4 mm in diameter. Petiole color: Light green, RHS 143 C.

General appearance and form.—Stem color: Green, RHS 143 A. Internodelength: 25-30 mm. Branching pattern: 5.0 branches. Plant size: 25.5 cmfrom soil to surface of foliage canopy/40 cm in diameter.

Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: None observed to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named‘Fissalmrose’, as described and illustrated.